The last time... a strange feeling

Wow. This is a strange feeling. Like that moment right before you wake up but you are still all sleepyheaded. I cannot believe this is my last email as a full-time missionary. You know, from the beginning you think about this moment coming and then the closer it comes, you beg for the time to slow down. I have learned many lessons in these few days - live in the moment because it always ends ;(

Quick run down of the week - saying goodbye to people was pretty brutal, more so than usual because it also felt like I was saying goodbye to Italy, to the only thing I have known for the past 18 months. I held it together until Sunday, specifically sacrament meeting. Then I think I must have gotten dust in my eyes or something because boy were they watering......sharing my testimony in italian for the last time as a missionary was a very special moment. I dont remember what i said or if it was even understandable but I felt peace and so much love toward all the members. Then monday morning, we got a call....our travel plans had been changed and we were to be in milano wednesday evening....so i had to actually face the fact and pull out the luggage. The  last few days have been extruciatingly diffcult. I had the pleasure yesterday of extending the baptisimal invite for the last time in my last lesson. It was the perfect conclusion to my mission but also a very bitter sweet moment. To sum it up, I can say Dying is hard. I literally feel like Italy is who I am now and Sorella Alley is who I am now. I know in time, I will figure it all out but to realize the 18months of consecrated service had come to a finish was a hard fact to face. But on a happier note, today was the perfect way to sum my entire experience thus far. We waited for 40minutes for a bus, that never came because of a strike so we chubby ran all the 30 minutes to the station with 3 pieces of luggage. I couldnt stop giggling because that is just Italy! 

So now, it has arrived. I will be in MIlano soon with the corpses (is that a word?) of other dead missionaries. All i can say is I WILL NEVER FORGET this experience. I can never forgot  the first day of my mission and thinking, "how am I ever going to survive this experience?". A few weeks later I remember thinking, "the next bus i see I am accidently going to put myself in front of it to get an honorable release...." to now thinking, "Io sono Italiana." The best of this entire experience is the end product of myself. My strengths became stronger and my weaknesses became strengths. I found my testimony, it deepened and now it is unshakeable. I will never be able to deny the feelings that I have experienced as a missionary nor the truthfulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Come what may, because I will never turn my back on what I KNOW to be true. I c ould not be more gateful for the mission Ihave served and the part of Italy that will always be with me. I am the most blessed person on the earth! 

Now, the countdown begins! I am allowing myself to now focus on the fact that I will see a few of my beloved in just a day! Those will be welcome happy tears. Thank you all for your support and encouragement. 

Vi amo! For the last time, 

Sorella Alley 

My last week!

Family family family, 

   hello again! What to say....dying is very strange. It is a roller coaster of emotions but I have had many wonderful  moments this week that I know are tender mercies from the Lord. While studying the other morning, I had a very strong impression the Lord was pleased with my work. I think it might be just a little of what the final judgement will be. As i mentally started from day 1 of my mission and worked to the present moment I examined myself and my desire. The Lord was not there with a clipboard or a list of mistakes that I have made as a missionary or the tiny moments of disobedience. Instead, I felt like He was showing me WHO I was, from the heart outward. I realized I have changed - I am not perfect. I still laugh at naughty jokes, I still drop it low when my companion is not looking and I still hate making my bed. But, I am a better version of me. I am a converted version of me. It this tender moment I felt the loving arms of the Savior rap around me and the welcomed, peaceful thoughts of "yes, I am pleased." Missions are the best. 

Game time

Famiglia mia! Cari miei.

Let's get down to business, shall we? Let us begin with the baptism of my girl Doris! Doris's sister Happiness (yes, legit nigerian name) gave birth so Doris left to Pistoia to tend to her auntly duties. But it worked out perfectly because the sister in Pistoia were able to finish teaching her and preparing her for her baptism on Saturday. And who may you ask are the sister's in Pistoia? Sorella Reni and Quinton! So yes, my little baby was able to prepare Doris for her baptism. So my heart was calm knowing Doris was in good hands. Friday we headed up to MIlano for consiglio della missione and it was weird to be there for the last time. I was doing fine and did not even notice until I shook hands with Anziano Pagano and realized it would be the last time I would see him for AT LEAST 6 months. I just started crying. It's fine. Out of no where it just hit that I HAVE to say goodbye to other missionaries as well as investigators and members. He shed a few tears himself and we parted our ways. Oh my little Pagano. Back to the baptism. Saturday morning rolled around and we started running around firemen in a burning building. Why? MIssionaries are very good at working in organized chiaos. Satan was working really hard to make sure that the baptism didnt happen but we side stepped him all day long and Doris was baptized! Literally it went PERFECT. Doris chose Andrew to baptize her and it's obvious that he was a baptizing missionary (Andrew, you are probably reading this so don't let your head get any bigger....) but he dunked her, literally did a body sweep to make sure it was complete immerse and then even looked at the witnesses. So Doris was baptized and was absolutely glowing! The next morning, she was confirmed and given the Holy Ghost. She is a huge miracle for me because I have been here and taught her for the entire experience. Sunday night the GANS through her a party and the love for her is overwhelming. She fits in perfectly and is the best thing to happen to our little ward. Welcome to the fold Doris, now "wiggle it". 

A week of Consecration

Famiglia Mia! Oh blessed family. How I have longed to be with you this week! This last week was a week dedicated to consecration and we had some very lofty goals. We worked on eliminating the task of the day that are "still good for missiionary work" and focused instead on the tasks that are "the best for missionary work". It was one of the best weeks ever for numbers and for miracles but it was also one of the hardest weeks of my mission.

It got me wondering about why it seems that trials or poopy times always seem to accompany miracles. And while I still don't have my complete answer, I am sure that trials are handpicked for us by the almighty maker. I have often thought that it is not fair that the "really righteous" seem to have the most trials while joe smow who doesnt keep any commandments skips through life whistling. This week made me realize that maybe, trials are given to the righteous, to the already stronger to just make us stronger. To make us more like our Heavenly Father- In one talk i read this week, it mentions that we "arent earning Heaven, we are learning Heaven." I have learned a little bit more about Heaven this week. 

My bike got stolen. Dang. Haha it wasn't even the better bike out of the two but still, someone is riding around on my Lady Mara and it wiped out my bank account. But thanks to the ever trusty Sorella Sarti, I have a new bike. It has been lovingly named, Midge. Why? Because I am pretty sure it is built for a 12 year old. Haha for 60 euro I thought to myself, "i have it for 3 weeks, it doesnt matter to me if my legs are above the handlebars..." So Midge, short for Midget and I are new best friends. 

August 20, 2014

Ciao cari miei! This week has beeeeen incredible! This has been a special week that President Dibb has asked us to dedicate to being more consecrated. I still am not sure what that means because it seems silly to me that for one week we all stop being a little less lazy for just 7 days. Why don't we make it 18 or 24months of consecration? But, consecrate ourselves we did and pop open your umbrellas because it's about to be raining miracles!

We had a wonderful day with the Marino and Sereni families for Ferriagosto. Sorella Sereni brought her neighbors so we were able to fellowship a couple and enjoy a wonderful afternoon together. It was great to be invited and I love both of these families. Fratello Marino is exactly like Dad and I just giggle at him all the time becaue he even grumples the same even though behind th grumppy mug he is all love and smiles. We didnt have to spend the entire day street contacting so it was a miracle.

Saturday, everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong. But at the end of the day, 2 buses missed and 2 trains missed, we arrived in Pisa and I almost kissed the nasty station ground. But from across the platform I spot a girl, who spots me who sees my tag and instantly her entire countenance changes! MEet Tais, 23 from Brazil! She had been in italy for only 3 days and has come here to study. She was feeeling very homesick and lonely (been there, felt that girl) and when she saw us she burst into tears. In broken english she told us she had been praying to meet us because she knew if she could find the church in Pisa, she would be okay. It was a huge testimony that Heavenly Father was tweaking my plans to answer the prayers of one of His children.. Quanto Dio ci ama!!!!!! 

A really funny story....

La vita è veramente bella. Sapete perché? Vi lo dico. Vi sto scrivendo dalla Arezzo, la terra famosa per il film La Vita è Bella.

I am writing you from Arezzo this week - the exact place that the famous film "Life is Beautiful"  was filmed. Can I tell you how much I love this land. I have seriously given my heart to this country. Alright let's jump into business. First, my mission mom is home now and it's a little weird that my group is now the oldest in the mission. Gulp. But it is also  been an wonderful week in the sense of working. We have not stopped running and most of the time, I am in a sure panic because there is not enough time for everything I want to do but I LOVE IT. Working hard is the only way to finish! 

So Sorella Bennett and I planned a "girl's night" for all our girl GANS. I have missed these nights with my own sisters and besties so we thought it would be a good way to bring us all closer together. We all met at Karen Perez's house and we did each other's hair, makeup, nails, ate and enjoyed being girls. Sorella Hoffman and I shared a message about being Woman of Christ and it could not have gone better. The Spirit was so strong and we testified of own our unique and vastly important role as woman. It was a wonderful night and our relationships and testimonies were deepened. 

We also had a ward FHE put on by yours truly. President Dibb once said, "i like to party" so I figured we might as well party in Pisa! So I filled up 100 water ballons and we played some water games as a family. Except no one told me Italians don't really like getting their close wet. Oops. Best moment of the day, I nailed an elder 3 times in a row with waterballons. Dead chest. Fratello Marino asked me why I could throw like that and I said, "My daddy taught me and I have 2 brothers." All the members were proud of me. Look Mom, I cant play the piano every week when asked but I can throw waterballoons. :) 

Scripture of the week Luke 19: 10"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." even Jesus had to do finding work! Not all the people found him or came to him. He hit the streets in search for the elect! Strada just got easier. 

Well, i am off! Vi amo tutti! Auguri a Richard and Tammy for 5 years of marriage! and to Bubbus for 28 years of life! 

Sorella Alley 

"Mission Leadership Council - July 4, 2014"

The start of Sorella Alley's LAST transfer!

Famiglia Mia! Non ci credo che è già trasferimento 12! No so dov'è andato il tempo ma c'è un pò ancora quindo devo lavorare piu forte! Devo dare il mio tutto al Signore. 

Trasnfer 12 is coming up like an unwated case of the winter sniffles. This transfer President Dibb changed the transfer policy and transfer calls were made sabato instead of lunedi so that we could say goodbye to members in church. So, sure enough we received a call from President Dibb during lunch. Sorella Bennett is headed to Mestre (includes Venice) and she couldn't be any happier. I am staying in Pisa (praise The Allmighty) and Sorella Hoffman will be coming to Pisa to work with me. Best news though is that Sorella Quinton is coming down to Pistoia so I will be her Sister Training Leader. FINAL SCAMBIO WITH THE BAMBINA! I prayed super hard for both my babies to come down to toscana for my final transfer but I know Burkster is working hard far away....

Please open up your scriptures with me to D/C 4. This is my battle cry - to give with all my heart. But There was a phrase in there I have never seen before. I donated my first body limb to this great cause. Yes, it was required that I give my left pinky toe nail. I have always been prideful of my feet - the toes all slant at a nice level and really I had quite beautiful feet. Now I am humbled. My heels are cracked and calused and I have only 9 toenails. But I painted a fake toe nail so all is well in Zion.